Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
☾ 𝑇𝑊𝐸𝑁𝑇𝑌 𝑆𝐼𝑋
It was early morning when they all woke. The sun hadn't risen from below the hills and the logs in the hearth were still hot from the evening before. The cups still stood stacked on the dining table, empty bottles of whiskey dotted around the house, mingling with the abandoned champagne. And by the front door, sitting boldly atop the scattered letters, lay the black hand.
No one under the roof of the Gray household could sleep.
Everything was unsettled, from the inanimate objects that were cast about the house, to even Anna, who was still confused by the whole ideal. It'd taken Ada several attempts to coax her from in front of the fire and instead to bed.
To say the least, it wasn't the Christmas day that any of them expected. A black cloud hung across their heads and would do so for another few days until the family meeting would take place. But they would try to enjoy themselves while they could. It was all they could do
Polly was deadly calm. She'd gone from raging about her pills the evening to sitting quietly in the sitting room while her children made breakfast, with a placidity to spook anyone.
Michael and Anna shared a glance as the shuffled into the room, trays of toast and tea shared between them. Polly suddenly looked up, a small smile on her face.
"Happy Christmas sweethearts," she said, bringing them both in for a side hug.
"Happy Christmas, mum," they said in unison.
Anna handed over her teacup, which Polly took with a thanks. She stumbled back slowly, hiding her mother's present until she was ready.
"Your presents are on the mantle," Polly said, glancing up to the wrapped parcels above the fireplace.
Michael handed them over silently, placing his own on his lap. Anna opened hers carefully, letting something wrapped in material slide out onto the table beside her. She picked it up, holding up a dainty dress with a trimmed collar and thin sleeves. Polly beamed as she watched her daughter hold it against herself.
"Aw, I love it," Anna said, grinning to her mum.
"You do?"
"Yes, of course!" She said. "Thank you."
"Ada had one just like it when she was younger. She never took it off. I thought it would be nice if you had one too," Polly said, before switching her gaze to the fallen package by her knees. "Don't forget that one down there."
